Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Patterns of reproductive periodicities in four species of indo-pacific echinoderms

  • Published:
Proceedings / Indian Academy of Sciences

Abstract

1. Four species of Indo-Pacific echinoderms, the echinoidsDiadema setosum andEchinometra mathaei, the asteroidLinckia laevigata and the holothuroidHolothuria atra, are reproductively active and spawn more or less continuously, when they occur near the equator.

2. Gametogenesis is synchronous among individuals ofD. setosum, and spawning occurs rhythmically, probably more or less monthly, during the spawning period. This spawning rhythm does not seem to be related to lunar phases as previously reported. When further than 10–15° latitude from the equator, reproductive activity becomes more and more restricted, until at about 30° latitude the spawning period is limited to the summer months.

3. Gametogenesis is asynchronous among individuals ofE. mathaei, L. laevigata andH. atra, and different individuals spawn at different times during the spawning periods. Some individuals ofE. mathaei are reproductively active at all times of the year throughout most of its distribution, except when north of about 27° N. latitude when reproductive activity is limited to the summer months.

4. Sea temperature seems to be important in regulating the reproductive periodicities of at least two of the species.D. setosum is reproductively active when the temperatures are above about 25° C., andE. mathaei is reproductively active when the temperatures are above about 18–20° C.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Antony Raja, B. T... “Observations on the rate of growth, sexual maturity and breeding of four sedentary organisms from the Madras Harbour,”J. Mar. biol. Ass. India, 1963,5, 113–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonham, K. and Held, E. E... “Ecological observations on the sea cucumbersHolothuria atra andH. leucospilota at Rongelap Atoll, Marshall Islands,”Pacific Sci., 1963,17, 305–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boolootian, R. A... “Reproductive physiology of echinoderms,”Proc. XVI Intern. congr. Zool., 1963,3, 130–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • -- and Giese, A. C. .. “The effect of latitude on the reproductive activity ofStrongylocentrotus purpuratus,”Intern. Oceanogr. Congr., Reprints, 1959, pp. 1–3.

  • Clark, H. L... “The echinoderm fauna of Torres Strait, its composition and its origin,” Carnegie Inst., Washington,Papers Dept. Mar. Boil. 1921,10, 1–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • -- ..The Echinoderm Fauna of Australia, Carnegie Inst., Washington, Publication 566, 1946, pp. iv + 567.

  • Coast and Geodetic Survey.. “Surface water temperature and salinity, Pacific Coast, North and South America and Pacific Ocean Islands,”C & GS., Publ., 31–3, 1962, 1st ed., 71, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C., 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, H. M... “Lunar periodicity in reproduction,”Proc. Roy. Soc., 1924,95 B, 523–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galtsoff, P. S... “Factors governing the propagation of oysters and other marine invertebrates,”Proc. 5th Pacific Sci. Congr. Canada, 1933, 1934,5, 4119–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giese, A. C... “Comparative physiology: Annual reproductive cycles of marine invertebrates,”Ann. Rev. Physiol., 1959,21, 547–76.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ——, Krishnaswamy, S., Vasu, B. S. and Lawrence, J. “Reproductive and biochemical studies on a sea urchin.Stomopneustes variolaris, from Madras Harbour,”Comp, Biochem. Physiol., 1964,13, 367–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gunter, G... “Temperature” inTreatise on Marine Ecology and Paleoecology, J. W. Hedgpeth edition, 1957,1, 159–84;Geol. Soc. Am. Mem., 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, E. B. ..The American Arabcia and other Sea Urchins, Princeton University Press, 1956, pp. xiv + 298.

  • Hodgkin, E. P., Marsh, L. and Smith, G. G. “The littoral environment of Rottnest Island,”J. Roy Soc. West. Australia, 1959,42, 85–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyman, L. H. ..The Invertebrates: Echinodermata, McGraw-Hill, 1955, vii + 763 pp.

  • Lewis, J. B... “The biology of the tropical sea urchinTripneustes esculentus Leske in Barbados, British West Indies,”Canad. J. Res., 1958,36, 607–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • McPherson, B. F... “Contribution to the biology of the sea urchinTripneustes ventricosus,”Bull. Mar. Sci., 1965,15, 228–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, S. M. and Stephenson, T. A. “The breeding of reef animals. Part I. The corals,”Great Barrier Reef Exped. 1928–29,Sci. Rpts., 1933,3 (8), 219–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moorhouse, F. W... “Notes onTrochus niloticus,”Great Barrier Reef Exped., 1928–29,, 1932,3 (5), 145–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————.. “(b) The temperature of the waters in the anchorage, Low Isles,”Great Barrier Reef Exped. 1928–29,, 1933,2 (4), 98–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mortensen, Th...Studies of the Development and Larval Forms of Echinoderms, G.E.C. Gad, Copenhagen, 1921, pp. 261.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————.. “Contributions to the study of the development and larval forms of echinoderms—I–II,”D. Kgl. Danske Vidensk., Selsk Skrifter, Naturvidensk. og Mathem. Afd., Ser. 9, 1931,4 (1), 1–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————.. “Contributions to the study of the development and larval forms of echinoderms—III.” Ibid., 1937,7(1), 1–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————.. “Contributions to the study of the development and larval forms of echinoderms—IV,” Ibid., 1938,7 (3), 1–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muromtsev, A. M...The Principal Hydrological Features of the Pacific Ocean, Translated by A. Birron and Z. S. Cole, 1963, pp. 417. Office of Technical Services, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. (IPST Cat. No. 753).

    Google Scholar 

  • Onoda, K... “Notes on the development of some Japanese echinoids with special reference to the structure of the larval body,”Jap. J. Zool., 1936,6, 637–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orton, J. H... “Sea temperature, breeding and distribution in marine animals,”J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K., 1920,12, 339–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul, M. D... “Studies on the growth and breeding of certain sedentary organisms in the Madras Harbour,”Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci., 1942,15 B, 1–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearse, J. S... “Reproductive periodicities in several contrasting populations ofOdontaster validus Kochler, a common Antarctic asteroid. Biology of the Antarctic Seas—II,”Antarctic Res. Ser., 1965,5, 39–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————.. “Antarctic asteroidOdontaster validus: constancy of reproductive periodicities,”Science, 1966,152, 1763–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —— and Giese, A. C... “Food, reproduction and organic constitution of the common Antarctic echinoidSterechinus neumayeri (Meissner),”Biol. Bull., 1966,130, 387–401.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Runnström, S... “Weiters studien über die temperaturanpassung der fort-pflanzung und entwicklung mariner tiere,”Bergens Museum Árbok, Naturv. rekke, 1929,10, 1–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Semenova, T. N., Mileikovsky, S. A. and Nesis, K. N. “Morphology, distribution and seasonal occurrence of larval brittle starsOphiocten sericeum (Forbes) S.L.B. in the plankton of the north-western atlantic, Norwegian and Baronts seas,”Okeanology, 1964,4, 660–83 (in Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Semper, K...The Natural Conditions of Existence as they affect Animal Life, 2nd edition, C. Kegan Paul & Co., London, 1881, pp. xvi + 472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson, A... “The breeding of reef animals. Part II. Invertebrates other than corals,”Great Brrier Reef Exped. 1928–29,Sci. Rpts., 1934,3 (9): 247–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tennent, D. H... “Early development and larval form of three echinoids of the torres strait region,”Carnegie Inst. Washington, Publ., 1929,391, 117–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorson, G... “Reproductive and larval ecology of marine bottom invertebrates,”Biol. Rev., 1950,25, 1–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wickstead, J. H... “A survey of the larger zooplankton of Singapore Straits,”J. Cons. Intern. Explor. Mer., 1958,23, 340–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yonge, C. M... “The biology of reef-buidling corals,”Great Barrier Reef Exped., 1928–29,Sci. Rpts., 1940,1 (13), 353–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshida, M... “Observations on the maturation ofDiadema setosum,”Annot. Zool. Japon., 1952,25, 267–71.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. J. S. Pearse

    Present address: Kerckhoff Marine Laboratory, Corona del Mar, California

Authors and Affiliations

  1. American University in Cairo, Cairo, U.A.R.

    J. S. Pearse

Authors
  1. J. S. Pearse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by Prof. S. Krishnaswamy,f.a.sc.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pearse, J.S. Patterns of reproductive periodicities in four species of indo-pacific echinoderms. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 67, 247–279 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03052195

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03052195

Keywords

Search

Navigation